"We checked every option, but there were no boats and no train tickets available. That's when my fabulous assistant determined the easiest thing would be to take a taxi," Cleese told the Norwegian TV2 broadcaster in a telephone interview posted on its website in Norwegian.

The bill? A whopping 30,000 kroner (3,800 euros/5,100 dollars), said Cleese, who was visiting the Norwegian capital to take part in the popular Scandinavian talk show Skavlan.